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Defending a Caw That Was Just.
THI<: I, VST SUItVIVOIl OV THE
CONFEDRH VTHJ CABINET.
lion, .lohn li. Itcitgan, or Texas, De
livers I ho Annual Address Before
the United OonlVd^rate Veterans?
PaolS of HImoi.v i hut Need to ho
Told.
Theannual addreas before the United
Confederate \' U-rens ut the reunion
in Nashvll) ?, Toon , was delivered by
Hon. John II. Li ague, of Texus, who
wa? Post mai-tar General of the Con
federate States, at (1 is the * last survi
ving member of Ihv Confederate cabi
net. It contuii s v double facts and in
cidents, and we priut the main por
tions of his address :
This grout assemblage und this Inter
esting occasion c. I , up many memories
of great events, li brings into review
the ahlo und earn* s discussions whlob
preceded the year 1801, on the great
questions whica Ind Up to the war b -
twoen the States : t1 e separation of the
members of the 30th Congress ; the ac
tion of the Southern States in passing
the ordinances of secession ; the organ
ization of the Government of the Con
foderuto Stute? of America: the com
mencement of hostilities at Charleston
harbor, the cull for volunteers by Pres
ident L'ncoln, the enthusiasm with
which men on both sides volunteered
to enter the great struggle, the separa
tion of husbands und fathers from wives
and children, of sot.s from futhers und
mothers, of brothers from sisters, und
of lovers from their sweethearts, with
eyes bedewed with tours und hearts,
throbbing wit i patriot sm. to enter the
camps of Instruct!) n, oiuko the long
marches und eugagu in tho liorco con
ti ids of battle, It brings into review
ilie assembling of migli'y armies, their
toilsome marunes, too sicKnessund suf
fering in camps, the thousunds of
skirmishes und buttles, participated in
by hundreds of thousands of brave men,
the Bufferings of tue wounded, und the
g real, uumber who fell on euch side as
martyrs to their patriotic devotion to
the causes they Iv-lu v d to bo right
and just, in the greuKst war of modern
timcb ; u wur in which hundreds of
thousunds of brave no n lost their lo'es,
and which left to the future u vust
army of mourning widows and children
und sorrowing re I at v s und friends,
und which oausod the sucritico of bil
lions of dollars' worth of property.
And'itculls up our i? membrance of
the great labor and saur licoa of our no
ble women in curing (or the children
and uged ut home, und In preparing
and sending to tho arm us clothes and
food for thei- loved oni s, und in min
istering to the sic!f und wounded in tho
hospitals,
THE QUESTION or SLAVERY.
From early times there were those
who questioned the righifulness to
slavery, possibly without sulhcient con
sideration of the charm, t :r of tho dif
ferent ruces of ?people. This feeling
grew tirst with the philanthropic und
religious classes until ut hut it was
seized upon by political demagogues us
an individual method ot political agita
tion and declamation by office-seekers,
it grew until mobs, Legislatures and
courts repudluted ttie constitutional
provisions and the laws ot Ci ugress und
the decisions of the siipre no court of
the United : tat OS, whic.i protected
sluvery in the States wheto it existed,
and required the rendit.on of sluves
when tney escaped in other Slutes.
The agitation of this question gathered
in strength and violence until it result
ed in civil war in Kan.-a. followed by
tho raid of John Brown untl his follow
ers, who invaded the Stute of Virgiuiu
for the purpose of inciting tho negroes
tc r. wur ojf.races. And because he wus
lawfullyjl&tYcstod und convicted und
hung bywe authorities of the State of
Virginiu for levying wur on tho Stute,
in an elTort to bring about u horrid war ;
between the negroes and whites, many
of the Northern churches were draped
in mourning and many of the Northern
people applauded his efforts und uulo- ,
gized this felon us a hero and murtyr.
This was followed by tho nomination
and election of a purely sectional unti
slavery tickot for president and vice ,
president of the United Stutes. und ,
during tho Congress, which immedi
ately preceded tho secession of tho ,
Southern States, thirty odd measures ,
of compromise were introduced in one
or tho other branches of Congress, In
nope of securing the adoption of u poli- ,
cy by which the union of the Stutes and
the rights of tho Stutes and of tho peo
ple could be preserved and war pro
vented. Kaoh of these propositions of
compromise was introduceo either by u
Southern man or by u Northern Demo
crat, and every ono of them was re
ceived with hooting and derision by tho
Republican members, as the Congres
sional Globe of that period will show.
And the Southern members wero told
that they had to submit to tho will of
tho majority, plainly showing that our
people could no longer rely for tho pro
tection of tho rights of tho Statos or
of tho people on tho enforcement of tho
provisions of constitution and the laws
of the United States. Could any peo
ple have, submitted to all this who
wero worthy of liberty und good gov
ernment V
TO VINDICATE TUE TRUTH OF HISTORY.
Vou must understand that f do not
mako this recital for tho purpose of re
newing the prejudices and passions of
the pust, but only for tho purpose of
showing to our children und to the
world that the ex Confouerates wero
not responsible for tho existence of
African slavery in this country, and
wore not responsible for tho existence
of tho great wur which resulted from
the agitation of that question, and that
they wore neither traitors nor rebels.
Comrades, by the laws of nature 1
can at most bo with you but a fow years
longer, and 1 fool it to bo my duty to
you and to posterity to make those
statements of the facts of history,
which vindicate us against tho chargo
of being elthor robols or traitors, and
which show that we wero not the au
thors of "a causeless wur, brought on
by ambitious loaders ;" but that our
bravo mon fought und sulTorod and died,
and our huly men of God prayed, and
our noble women Buffered patiently and
patriotically all the privutlous and
horrors of a groat war, cruolly forced
upon us, for tho purpose of upholding
the constitution and laws of tho United
States as preserving the rights of the
several States to regulato their own
domestic policies, and of protecting the
people against spoliation and robbery
by a dominant majority, some of whoso
members, because tho Holy Bible sanc
tioned slavery, doolared that they
wanted an "antl-plovery Bible and an
anti-slavery God," and who because the
Constitution of the United States recog
nised and protected i- livvcry, declared
that It was a "league with hell and a
covenant with death.'*
Whatever may been said In tho past
in the defence, of the institution of
slavery, and whatever now may bo
Hklhought of tbo means by whloh It was
iff fill I M III 111 If I II ? '
' abolished in this country, tho spi'it of
tho present ago is against it, and it has
passed away, and 1 supposo no one
I wishes its restoration, if that were
j practicable. Certainly I would not re
store it if I had the power. 1 thing it
I better for thn black race that they are
free, and 1 arn sure that it is better tor
tho whito race thai thorc are no slaves.
Some great Macaulay of tho future
! will tell those grand truths to posterity
bettor and more forcibly than 1 can in
J this brief address, and will by reference
i to history, to tho sacred Scriptures ami
to tho constitution of the U nited States,
as mude by our revolutionary fathers,
vindicate the patriotism and tho horole
virtues and struggles of our people.
WHY THERE WAS NO COMPROMISE.
In lator times those not familiar with
tho facts to which I am referring have
asked tho question: "W.iy was not
this great question compromised ?"
btatlng that it would have cost a fifth
o( the money to pay for and liberate
tho slaves that tho war cost, ami that
in that way the tens of thousands of
valuable lives of good men might have
boon saved, and all tho attendant suf
fering prevented.
The first answer to that question is,
that t ie slaves in the United states at
tue beginning of the war were estima
ted to ho of the value of throe thousand
million dollirs, and if they wore to be
liberated common honesty rtqulred
that it should have boon at the expense
of tho nation, which was responsible
for its existence. Tho Republicans
and tho anti-slavery people were thou
a majority Of the white people and had
full poss> ssion of the Federal govern
ment, or wore ready and authorized to
take possession of it. And tboy de
manded that tho whole loss to arise
from tho freeing of tho slaves should
fad on their owners and on tho South
ern States. They never proposed and
would not have consented for tho Fed
eral government and the Northern peo
ple to pay any part of tho cost of free
ing the slaves. Their patriotism svas
notof tho kind which would cause them
to assume a part of the burden of cor
recting what they claimed to boa groat
national wrong. Ami that, too, a
wrong, if it svas a wrong, which we in
herited fron? other ami older na
tions, ami which was incorporated Id
our social and industrial systems, and
sanctioned by our constitutions, state
and Fedora', in tbe organization of the
governments. The agitators were
willing and anxious to bo patriotic aud
just at the expense ol other people.
The second answer to It is, that tho
industrial and social systems of the
Southern States woro so Interwoven
with the interest of slavery that the
people then believed the frei dum of the
slaves, without compensation, meant
ttio bankruptcy of the people and
States whore it existed, to bo followed
probably by a war of races. I am speak
ing of what they thou believed. As an
ovidonco that our own people, in the
oarlior years of tho Republic, recog
nized tho necessity of acquiescing in
tbo social and industrial conditions
which had grown out of African slave
ry, history tolls us that Gen. George
Washington, who was an extensive
slaveholder, was made commander in
chief of our revolutionary armies. Ho
was tho president of the convention
which formed tbo constitution of tho
United States, and was elected as tho
first president of tho United Stites, and
was rc-oleeted to that position. Mr.
Jefferson, Mr. Madison, Mr. Monroe,
Gen. Jackson, Mr. Folk and Gon Tay
lor were each elected president of tho
United States, and all of them were
tho owners of slaves. They, like the
framors of tbo constitution, recognized
that this country had inherited a con
dition of things in this respect in
which it became neeessary to acquiesce.
I do not assume to know whether, if a
proposition to pay for tho slaves had
been made, it would have been accept
ed.
Such a sacrilico as that which was
demanded of the Southern people, has 1
not In tho world's history boon submit- I
ted to by any peoplu without an ap
peal to tne iast dread arbitrament of
war. And ours were a chivalrlc. intel
ligent, proud and liberty loving people,
and if they twd submitted to this sacri
fice without a struggle they would have
proven themselves unworthy to bo f:co
men, and unworthy of tho proud titlo
i>f being Americans. And I say uow,
with dt liberation and sincerity, In
viow of all the calamities of tho
war, if tho same condition of things
could again occur, 1 would rather ac
cept those calamities than belong to a
race of cowards and surrender tho most
sacred rights of self government to the
clamor of a majority overriding tho
constitution and demanding terms so
revolting to our senso of justice.
THE HAMPTON ROADS CONFERENCE.
In this connection 1 dosiro to tay
that it has boon frequently asserted
of late yours that at the conference be
tween President Lincoln and Secretary
Soward of tho Federal side, and Messrs.
Stephens, Hunter and Campholl of the
Confederate side, at Hampton Heads
on tbo .'Id of January, 18(>f>, that Presi
dent Lincoln otforod the Confederates
$400,000,000 for tho slaves if tboy
would abandon tho war and return to
tbe union. This story has assumud
various forms to suit the tho rhetoric
of tho speakers and writers who have
given It currency. I wish to assert
most solemnly that no such offer in any
form was made. All the papers relat
ing to the Hampton Roads Conference
are given in " MoPhorson's History of
tho Rebellion," as ho calls It. They
show that the joint resolution for
amending tbo constitution of the
United States was passed by Congress
submitting to tho States tue question
of abolishing siuvery in tho United
States, two or throe days before tho
dato of tho conforonco. Tho roport of
tho commissioners on tho part of tbo
Confederacy, which was published at |
tbe time, shows that no such olfor was
made or referred to In that confeironce.
Tho statement of President I) ivis aud
that of Presidont Lincoln and of Sec
retary Seward show that no such offer
was made or ta'kcd of at that oonfor
oneo. This falso statement ha* boon
often made. It Is dlsprovon ny every
man who was there, and by ovory pa
per which has boon wrltion bj or for
tbo mon who were there. Neither
I Presidont Lincoln nor any other man
' on the Federal side would have dared
to mako such an OtTO" at that time.
It was stated at th* time, and I believe
the statement to bo true, that tho Con
gress hurried tho joint resolution above
named through so as to forestall the
possibility of any such proposition.
The obj lot of this untruthful state
ment was no doubt to cast odium on
the Confederate President and author
ities by trying t > show that they would
aecept no terms of.poaco and were re
sponsible for tho continuance of the
war.
President Davis appolntod Vice
President Stephons to go to Washing
ton In 1804, ostensibly to soouro a re
newal of tho cartel for tbe oxuhange
of prisoners, but tho real purpose of
his mission was to see President Lin
coln for tbe purpose of ascoi t lining on
what condition the war could ho ter
minated. But ho was not permitted
by the Federal authorities to pass
through their military lines. Then he
appointed tho commissioners te> tho
saino purpose. And afterwards, in
1805, ho authoriz :d Con. It K. Lee to
try to negotiate through Gen. Grant,
for tho same purpose I mention these
facts to show that it is a mistake to
suppose that President Davis neglect
ed any means in his power to end tho
war on hooorao 1 terms, anu mention
them because of tho many misrepre
; sentatlons which have been made on
I this subject. Ho could not have made
public all he did in this respect at the
i time without discouraging our army
I and tho peop'e. And if at any time
\ he hail proposed or consented I t iin
1 conditional y surrender bo would have
' been in danger of violence at the hands
of our own popple. Neither ho nor
tin y proposed or intended to surrender
unconditionally unless overoowered.
RECONSTRUCTION and RESTORATION.
After tho overthrow id the Confeder
ate government and tho surrender of
tho Confederate armies, tho work of
the restoration of the federal autbot i
ty in tho Southern States was com
meuced, while tho excitemi nt and pas
sions and prejudices of the war were
in full blaze und were Intensified by
the assassination of President Lincoln,
with which it was then unjustlj as
sumed tho Confederate authorities hail
some connection, and winch was re
garded by tbem as most unfortunate
for the people who had adhered to tho
fortunes of the Confederacy.
Under the state of feeling which then
existed on both sides it was hardly to
be expected that a wise and temperate
policy of reconstruction would be adopt
ed, while many of the churches of the
Northern States were resolving, and
some of their ministers of tho religion
of Christ were preaching a crusade of
hate, i inscription and revenge against
the Southern people.
Too plan adopted for the restoration
of ttie Union anil the pacification of
tho Southern people was to deprive
them of all political rights, put them
under military rule, and suspend the
right of the writ of habeas corpus, so
that there could bo no relief or redress
for any wrong done to a citizen, how
ever unlawful or outrageous. Our
oitiz ms were subject to arrest by the
military authorities without an a Hi da
vit or formal charge, or legal warrant,
and to detention without knowing
what the charges against them were,
and to trial by a drum-head court-mar
tial without tho intervention of a jury.
A large part of the Southern States
had been devastated by war : the peo
ple bad exhausted their resources in
the endeavor to maintain their cause,
and tens of thousands of their bravest
anil best men bad either fallen in bat
tle or died in the service. Huaten in
battle, denied political rights and tho
protection of iaw, governed hy an un
friendly military authority, and by the
negroes, carpetbaggers and scalawags,
(I mention them in the order of their
respectability), plundered and robbed
by tho i mployees of the treasury de
partment, and constantly menaced by
loyal leagues composed of the elements
above named, their condition scorned
to bo ushopUcss ns can well bo im
agined.
If untb-r tho providence of Cod tho
lifo of President Lincoln could have
been spared, so that "ho reconstruction
and Uio restoration of the Union could
have been brought about under bis
supervision, and that of the olllcers
and soldiers who fought the battles of
the Union, I believe the country would
have been saved from the introduotlou
of abnormal military governments
which are so unfriendly to civil rights
and political liberty, and so contrary
to the genius of our government; and
that the people of tho Southern States
would have been saved from much of
the enormous sacrifices and Buffering
which tliey wore compelled to endure
during tho period of reconstruction :
the demagogues in politics, the un
christian persecution by religious
bodies, and the thieving ticasuryolti
elals would not have had bo wide a
field for their operations.
it is unpleasant for me to make the
foregoing r< jltals, and the more to be
cause the purpose for which tney are
made may be misunderstood or mis
represented. The restoration of peace,
good government, the rul 3 of law, and
good will between those who wi re once
enemies, is as gratifying tome as it
can bo to any other citiz in. Hut the
charge baa been constantly made since
tho war that the Confederates were
rebels and traitors, and the effort is all
tho time being trade to educate the
rising generation nto tho helief that
their fathers and their mothers wore
robels and traitors, and therefore law
less criminals. Without malice against
any of our fellow citizens, I feel it to
bo my duty to tho memory of our ho
roic dead, li their surviving associates
and to thoso who are to come after
us, to make tho foregoing statements
iD vindication of tho truths of history,
and in justification of the patriotism,
the manhood and love of justice of
thoso who defended the lost cause, and
offered their ail In an clTirt to pre
serve their constitutional rights
against the uggressions of a hostile
majority.
TRIUMPH OK SELF-QOVERMENT.
Prora tho dosolation, absence of civil
government and political rights and of
law throughout the Southern states,
less than thirty years ago, wo now, in
all these states, have good civil govern
ment, eood laws faithfully enforced,
liberty protected, society reorganized,
peace and Industry re-established, with
many valuable enterprises put into suc
cessful operation, and with a steady
and wonderful incroasu in population,
wealth and comforts of olvilizod lifo.
This constitutes tho greatest and proud
est vindication of tho capacity of our
peopio for local self'government, und
is a grander and nobler achievement
by our people than was ever obtained
by war. It Is the triumph of their ca
pacity for self-government, and shows
that our people aro worthy the pos
session of tho political powor and reli
gious liberty wliicb they now enji.y ;
and which shows thorn worthy of po
litical equality with thoso who wore
oneo our enemies. In this great Cen
tennial ?Zposition of Tonnesseo wo
have before us u magnificent exhibi
tion of the results of Southern enter
prise and prosperity to gladden the |
hearts of our people and to gratify tho
prldo of the peopio of this great state.
And to-day tbo peopio of tho South aro
as earnest In their attachment to our
common govornment as those of any
other part of tho Union, and would
make as great sacrifices, if need bo In
defense of our govornment as could bo
made by any othor part of tho Ameri
can poople. Knjoying peace and liber
ty to-day, we can rofor with prldo to
tho courage and heroism of our soldier*)
In the late war, and to tho gallantry
and bklll of our ohToors. And when
Impartial history comes to be written
wd do not doubt but that It will bo
seen that thoy were novor excelled In
tho qualities of patienco, endurance
and manly courage by any othor noo
ple.
The names of Jtffurson Davis, H. K.
; Lie, Stonewall Jackson, Albort Syd
i ney Johnson and many others of our
horoio leaders will go Into history Illu
minated by a halo of courago and
skill and purity of life and patriotism
unsurpassed by any other namos in
hlstorv As indicating tho faith of
earnestnrss, I call attention to the
eiosing sentences of his inaugural ad
dress, after his election under the con
stitutional government of the Confed
eracy, made on the 22 id day of Febru
ary, ls<>2. tvalidng Iiis hands, ut the
; close of his address, and looking tow
ards the heavens he said: "And now,
0 (.Jod, 1 commit my country and bei'
I cause to Thy iioiy keeping," thus show
ing the solemnity with which lie as
sumed anew tho duties of President of
of the Confederacy.
l'HIi WOMEN Ol?' T1IK CONKK0EHACY.
History notes w'lth its richest praises
the matrons of Koine. They were no
doubt worthy of all that was said of
them. But their honors cluster about
thorn when Rome was a great and vic
torious nation. This is not said to
their discredit, but to contrast with
them tin; .;:>ble and devoted women of
?uo Confederacy. The grandeur of
their lives and conduct was exhibited
in a cause in WUlch tho odds were
greatly against their country, in which
Baerl tices were necessrry, and In which
SUCC088 was always doubtful. 1 never
felt my inability to do justice to any
subject so keenly as 1 .do when at-.
tempting to do justice to the character
of the women of the Confederacy.
They gave to tho armies their hus
bands, fathers, sons and brothers with
aching hearts, and bade them good*
hyo with sobs and tears, but they be
lieved the saorltloe was due to their
country and her eau.-o. They assumed
the care of their homes and of the
children and the aged. Many of them
who had been roared in ease and
luxury had to engage in all the drud
gery of tho farm and shop. Many of
them worked in the lields to raise the
means of feeding their families.
Spinning wheels and looms were mul
tiplied where none had been seen be
fore, to enable them to clothe their
families and furnish clothing for their
loved ones in the army, to whem with
messages of love and encouragement
they sent, whenever they COJId, some
thing to wear or to eat. And like
angels of mercy they visited and at
tended the hospitals with lint and
bandages for the wounded, and medi
cine for the sick, and such nourish
ment as they could for both. And
their holy prayers t\t all times went to
the tlirone ol God for tho safety of
those deal to them and for the success
of the Confederate cause. There was
a courage and a moral heroism in their
lives superior to that which animated
our brave men, for the men were
stimulated by the presence of their as
sociates, the hope of applause, and by
the excitement of battle, while these
noble women, in the seclusion and
quietude of their homes were inspired
by a moral courage which could come
only from God and the l ive of country.
1 hope wo a.*e to have a battle abbey,
and if we . hould the honor of our
Southland demands that at the same
place there stould lie a splendid monu
ment erected to commemorate the con
stancy, tho services and the vl.'tues of
tho noble women of the Confederacy.
And since tho war some of our grand
and noble women: the widow of PrOrl*
dent Davis, the widow of Stonewi 11
Jackson and tho widow of Col. C. M.
Winklor, of Texas, have earned the
gratitude of our people by books they
have furnished ns, containing most
valuable contribut ions to the literature
of the war and supplying a feature in
it that no man has supplied or could
supply.
To illustrate the character and de
votion of tho women of the Confede
racy, I wiil repeat a statement made
to me during the war by Cov. Lotcher,
ol Virginia. Ho had visited l?s old
homo in the Shenandoah valley, and
on his return to the State capital called
at the house of an old friend who bad
a large family. He found no one but
the good old mother at home, and in
quired about the balance of the family.
She told him that her husband, her
husband's 'ather and her ten sons wero
all in the army. And on Iiis sugges
tion that she must feel lonesome, hav
ing had a lame family with her and
to be now left alone, her answer was
that it was very hard, but that if she
had ten more sons they should all go
to the army. Can ancient or modern
history show a nobler or more unselfish
and patriotic devotion to any cause ?
There have boon and there still may
be those wiio nil !0t to speak lightly of
tho Confederacy ; out a cause and a
country which it required more than
four years of terrible war. anil armies
of more than two million men, and
which cost the lives of hundreds of
thousands, Counting the lesson both
sides, the expenditure of billions of
dollars, und the saorlfloo of other bil
lions of dollars worth of property, to
overcome, can hardly he belittled by
any honest or sensible man. Wo can
well afford to wait the verdict which
history will render on the men and
women of the late Confederacy.
[HE CONFEDERATES CAPfUHED NASHVILLE.
THR CITY CAPITULATED WITH'
OUT KIOSISTANCIO.
Gordon'* Resignation was Not Ac
cepted?Ktit'it Thousand Veterans
In Attendance?The Next Meeting;
to he Held In Atlanta.
The annual convention of the United
Confederate Veterans begad in Nash
ville on tho 22od of June, and lasted
three days. Con. John B. Gordon was
in his place as presiding otlicer, al
though ho had been quite sick for a
week or more. Among the prominent
men in attendance were (ions. Stephen
D. Leo, of Mississippi, M. C. Butler, of
South Carolina, JoSCLh Wheoler, of j
Alabama, Clement A K?ans, of Geor
gia, W. B. Hate, of Tennessee, Marcus
.). Wright, of Washington, I). C, and
s. B. Buck nor, of Kentucky.
Toe assemblage was cubed to order
by Gen. Gordon, and prayer was oll ered
by the chaplain, Dr. J. Win. Jones, of
Virginia. Governor Taylor delivered
an address of welcome ou behalf of tho
State ; Judge .??'orris spoke for tho coun
ty, and Bishop Fitzgerald represented
the city. Cion.?Jordon responded briefly
on behalf of tho old soldiers, and tiion
introduced 1 It ri. John EL Knigan, of
Texas? ns the annual orator. Judge
Reagan's address wu? (ml of historic
ntorost, and OUT readers will lind the
main portions of Iiis spOdOb olsowhoro.
The city of Nashvilio gave the vete
rans a most cord ial reception. Tho deco
rations wore profuse, andj nearly every
public building was in its most gorge
ous apparel. The convention was held
In tho Union Tabornaclo, an immense
and suporb structure, and it is not pos
sible to Imagine a hotter hall for tho
mooting.
Sinco tho audition rocontly mado to
tho upper galleries has been completed,
tho seating capacity of tho Tabornaclo
Is bot ween 1(1,000 and 12,000 people, and
I with standing room utilised It Is esti
mated that 13,000 poroons can got with
in the doors.
No pains nor exponso had boon sparod
in decorating tho interior of the build
ing, and a moro perfect plcturo could
hardly bo Imagined. The general ol
feot ?a? in agin lice n i and eaoh hang
ing decoration might undergo the se
verest critical examination.
Many handsomest works of art were
suspended on the front wall above the
speaker's platform, oae of which was
the celebrated painting of General Lie
, mounted on his whit.; charger, with
. full uniform, sword and accoutrements,
\ ready for battle. Another was a life
! s i ;u painting of Stonewall Jackson,
j similarly mounted and equipped,
These pictures hung in relative posh
tiens on either side of a veiy large coat
I of arms of Tennessee. Directly above
the coatof arms was a cupid-liko figure
on canvas bearing in its hand a parch
ment, on wbloh was inscribed in glided
letters, "Welcome. ' Suspended from
the walls, tho dome, tho galleries and
every available point of vantage about
tile immense building wore State llags
and coats of arms arranged in regular
order, stars and stripes ami bunting in
profusion. Tho whole was very artistic
in design, and tho i tlect at lirst glance
most wonderful.
As the critic examined in detail each
piece of decoration, it was evident that
every position had been studied and
each hanging had been made with re
gard to the appearance of the whole.
Nashville is proud of the Tabernacle.
Tho business meeting of the second
day was even more largely attended
than at the opening session.
The report of the committee on his
tory wi;^ presented. This report fu
Vor?d the plan now being pursued of
inviting many writers into tho lie Id of
history rather than selecting one or
more to write a history.
Too report of the trustees of the Con
federate memorial association was sub
mitted, showing that excelleut progriss
was being made, arjd that the trustees
would ins ablo to report a locatiou for
the memorial building at the next re
union, provided camps and bivouacs
contributed liberally.
Atlanta was decided upou as the
place of meeting in ISiiS.
A resolution commending tho reign
of Cv) icon Victoria was voted down, and
a resolution in pruiso of the queen's
jubilee was defeated.
Gen. Gordon delivered his annual ad
dress, and prefaced his remarks with a
determination to resign tho position of
commanding general, but this was re
ceived with a decided "No" from every
part of the hall. Tho address was in
tho nature of a farewell, and reviewed
tiie work dene under his administra
tion. The following extracts give the
chief points of the address :
"Mr. President, in these closing hours
of my long service as commanding gen
eral, 1 must ask the convention's Indulg
ence for a brief review of that oflloial
relation and possibly for some sugges
tions as to the future.
"On the lUth day of Juno, 1881), eight
years ago, while serving as Governor
of my native State, I received from
Now Orleans the wholly unexpected
announcement of my election as com
ma nder-in-oh let of the newly organized
United Confederate Veterans. This
new communion of ex-soldiers began
its somewhat unpromising career with
the modest number of button organiza
tions united for peaceful and noble
ends. Today it presents the proud ar
ray of more than a thousand camps an
swering the roll call and reflecting
merited honors upon tho different com
manders and especially upon our aide
adjutant general. I n'the next few hours
1 snail turn over to my successor this
army of more than a thousand organ
izations rapidly advancing towards the
second thousand.
"1 said, Mr. President, that 1 would
turn over an army. It is an army of
ex-soldiers, of ex-Confederate soldiers,
of ex lighting Confederate soldiers at
whose opowress and endurance enlight
ened Christendom stood in breathless
amazement, it is an army still, Mr. I
President, but an army for the bloody
work of war no longer. Its banner
no longer bear tho Raming insignia of
battle, its weapons no longer Hash dc
dance to the foe nor deal death to op- |
posing ranks Its weapons are now the
pen without malice, the tongue with
out aspersion and history without mis
representation. Its aims are peaceful,
philanthropic and broadly patriotic,
its sentiment is lofty, generous and
just. Its mission is to relievo tho suf
lering of the living, cherish the mem
ory of the dead and to shield from re
proach the fair name of all. This now
mighty organization, while insisting
upon complete historical justice to tho
South, will scorn to do less than com
plete j istice to tho North. Proud of
the Smith's chivalry in defending tho
rights of tho Stales, they honor tho
heroism of the North in defending tho
perpetuity of the Union. Having com
mitted mo Smith's cause to the arbitra
ment of battle they loyally and manful
ly stand by that tribunal's verdict,
r ighting and suffering for their homes
und rights as men have rarely fought
and siill';red in tho world's history ?.ex
hibiting on a hundred Holds und in a
thousand emergencies a heroism
never excelled ; yielding from utter ex
haustion and only when their prostrate
stction was blooding at every pore:
falling after tho most desperate defen
sive struggle in human annuls to estab
lish their cherished Confederacy, these
high-s niled sons of the Smith Oiler this
record of devotion us the noblest pledge
of their feulty to freedom und of thoir
readiness to defend the republic of the
fathers.
"My comrudes of tho United Confed
erate Veterans, if this brief summary
fairly represents your sentiments and
your uims, then my cup of joy Is full i
indeed. I cannot doubt, i do not doubt,
that I havu caught and correctly voiced
the impulses and hopes of the most rep
resentative body of southern manhood."
Wliuu Con. Gordon concluded his ad
dress, u motion wus made that (ion.
Joseph Wheeler bo requested to Dom
inate Gen. Cordon for re-election,
which wt's oarried with enthusiasm.
Gen.Stephen I). Lee, who was occupy
ing the chair, declared that nomina
tions wore closed and Gen. Cordon was
unanimously ro-oleeted. Tho thou
sands of delegates present cheered and
wave.i thoir huts und hundkorchiefs
and the scene was a most impressive
one.
Tho cummittuo on credentials ro
I ported 7,IK;0 delegates present and 1,000
camps represented.
Tho parade on Thursday, 24th Inst.,
in which more than I0.U0D veterans
took part, was the. largest in tho history
of the organization und one. of the
greut&^c over seen in Nasbvillo.
The regulur und special trains ar
riving in t he. morning brought thou
sunds of people from cities und towns
In Tcnucssee und other Stutes, and
i thousands more came to tho city in
; wagons and on horseback from various
i parts of the country uround Nashville.
Tho streets were densely crowded and
I every available place from which a
j vlow of tho groat procession could bo
I obtained was occupied long before the
' order to march was glvon by (Jon. W.
, II. Jackson, the chief marstiui.
Tho parade was headed by a dotuah
mont of pollco. Thon came General
Jackson and his statT. Gonoral John
14. Gordon, tho commandor-ln-ohief of
! tho United Confederate Veterans, and
his Bluff followed closo behind. Kacb
division was headed by the gonoral in
command, and tbo sponsors and maids
ot honor rode in open oarriages, which
wore decorated with Hags.
Tinire vv^fir^a^^^K^^u^handH In the
were followed bv loud applause from
the spectators. The stars and b tri pet
and the Confederate Hug were conspic
uous on tho long line that reached from
tho publie Miliare to the Tcnne.-see
Centennial exposition gates.
The procession was composed of the
South Carolina, North Carolina., Mia
souri, Kentucky, Maryland, Indian Ter
ritory, New? York, District of Columbia,
Illinois, Arkansas, Virginia, Texas,
j Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, Florida,
1 Mississippi and Tennessee divisions,
Unit d Confederate Veterans, Sons of
Confederate soldiers. Troops A. of the
Savannah Hussars, United Daughters
of the Confederacy, the sponsors for the
different States and their maids of
honor.
A WOMAN'S RECOLLECIIONS OF THE WAR.
RACY MEMORIES OF CONFED
ERATE I I MKS.
The Burning of Columbia was Vial
hlo in Union County?Negroes lie
llevetl the Judgment Day Had
Come,
It is hard to know just how far Iwok
, into the realm of infancy our memories
! reach.and i.ow much of what we remem
ber is what we have had told us of that
fairy-land of the ;>us* My rocollootlons
of the early days ol tne late war are as
dim and shadowy as the hazy Bugger*
of color that the budding trees take on
in the early spring.
Mi first real war-time memory is of
the 13 >aUregard bats, very pre tty broad
brimmed white leghorns trimmed with
white ribbOQS, and a fringe, of white
lace banging around too edge of the
brims, with which one spring, my
mother delighted too hearts of my eld
er sister and myself. Then comes a
shadowy vision of the cadets from the
Military institute, and the local mili
tary company, inarching up and down
our shady ?trocts to the cheers of the
admiring throng. Kven more vividly
do I recall being allowed to accompany
the nurse, who was sent with the other
servants to the depot to carry food to
the troops then passing through on the
trains. And full well I remember with
what zest we children sang a patriotic,
though not very olegaut improvisation,
in which we declared "Jeff Davis'' to bo
a gentleman, but referred to "Abe Lin
coln'' in terms more vigorous than po
lite: closing with the rather doubtful
assortii n that
"Jeff Dav is rides a milk-white siecd.
Abo Lincoln rides a mule."
In the early part of I80JI, my father, a
weli-known citizen of Charlotte, X. C.
but a native of England, was called to
that country to take possession of the
estate; left by his father. Going by way
of Charleston, S. C, to secure passports
from the British consul, he ulso pro
cured bills of exchange ou the Hank of
l?ugland, from the Confederate secre
tary of the treasury, Mr. Trenholm.
Befog arrested in Now York, on suspl
olou as a spy, these papers caused bis
detention feu- two years in a Federal
orison. In the bandages em the: foot of
a wouuded fellow-prisoner who was re
leased, ho concealed a lett.-r to my
mother, directing her to t ike her fam
ily of six llttlj children and make her
home with his brother e.aw, In the
town of Union, S. C, about sixty miles
from Columbia. So our happy homo
was given up, novor again to be re-en
tered. And in thi-> iiiiiet, little town
we .-pent the. last oxcltiug and evcutful
months of the war.
This uncle kept a boarding school 'or
young lud los, in a building formerly
??oeel as a hotel, occupying acorner
whore: the main streets of the village
crossed, and facing em twe> streets. It
is a strange fact that all through these
troubb us tunes this school was sustain
ed, teachers and pupils keeping at their
work, though with frcquont interrup
tions toward the last. 1 remember how
the teachers und my young lady cousin,
ofton entertained the ollicers of passing
troops, and one nightu remnant of Mor
gan's bravo hand, by singing for them,
"The Boony Blue Flag," "All <N?n.t
Along tho Potomac," and that most,
pathetic of all war time songs, "The
Vacant Chair," Who could hear it
without a tear ?
When Sherman's army entered the
State, headed toward Columblu, it was
thought that our little town could not
eseupu us iio would certainly move on
le> the notthWe-stern towns. With tele
graph wires down, and railroads torn
up, the; enemy sometimes travelled
more rapidly than HOWS of bis when -
abouts : sei wo had stirring times mak
ing ready fer the coming of 'tho yan
kecs."
Humors hud reaohod us from othor |
parts e?f the State of their penchant for i
jewelry, silver, and all such "portable
property ;" it being stated, with bow
truoh truth] never knew, that in the I
lower part ol the; State, earrings were |
torn by the n from Ilm earn of tho ladles, j
So, many ingenious devices were resort- j
eil to feir secreting our valuabl e. Tue (
large boopsklrts then worn by the ladlos '
wores very scrvioable for this purpose,
as many 6 Olid I articles could bo tied to {
tlumi without weighting down the ,
Wearer. ^ lite a number of our young
ladies were transformed into walking
spoon am. fork racUs O.io of tho touob
ers, I remetalier, concealed her watch
in her hair, which was worn in a lo.v
knot conIInod ltt a not, then much in
> oguo.
My one treitsuro, a so-called, alabas
ter doll, 1 huiiod by usage, hush in tho
garden to savt from tho I ndlsor I in tou
ting grasp of Iho omnivoous foo. That
night a houv* rain fell, and next day
when I concluded that "tho yankoos"
woro not coning, anyway, ami went to
oxhume my leloved doll, I found to my
great grief tlat the bountiful alabaster
heael was utterly ilissolvoil A keener
grief I have tevcr known; for neither
.lolls nor moieiy woro them to bo bad,
bo I know it Quant an Irreparable be
reavement.
But a far nore serious loss befoll my
uncle and bnther, who in the dead of
I night when tie negroes woro supposed
I to bo asleep,bad sunk a hogshead in
the cellar, and In this stored their
china, cutgliss, and silver pieces. Af
ter tho stirreidor, w ben thoy thought
it prudent ti unearth tholr treasure!,
' not erne arthio remained in tho hogs- j
head, and n<t 006 was e vor recove red.
t)no novelmodo of preparing for the
"coming of be yankoes. did m>t eome
to e>ur a.otlnr's knowledge until years
after, fortmtoly for us. Hy some un- i
? accountable'freak of tho child-mind,
my eldest sstor and I conceived the
idea that w would have ne ed of extra
agility in gitting away from "the yan
j koi-s." Whit indolinablo heirrors tho '
I very natno suggested to our excited
chilelisb Imaginations ! So In order to
1 become expert in escaping the dutches
, of those musters, wo betook ourselves
ovory aftonoon after school to a vory
deep gully,noarat hand, and oxerclscel
oursulves y jumping from point to
fioint oveir eally perilous holgbts ; on
y a kind povldenco saving us from a
dangor far i eater than falling into tho
hands of tU yankee^a.
I In my utilo's housohold It was tho
cuatom to iavo family prayor In tho
dlulng renn, Immodtatoly after tho
i tin.- supper table, thissalntly man pour
i ing *-?ut his soul in prayer for our nOllo
? led land, and for Iiis holp'osg family,
i tbo pleading torn b of that gentle voice
? were suddenly stepped b\ a terrible
hanging 00 the dour, and tooshrieks ol
the cook, ''Master I Master ! judgment
I day is come ! The world i- burning
up I" That prayer was never finished.
? The frightened Crowd '?f women and
children rushed luto the yard to lind
the t>ky seemingly ablaze from horizon
almost to zenith, it did look like that
dreadful 'May of wrath," hud indeed
come. After a few minutes' survey of
I tho plowing heavens, my undo saM
quietly; "I think It Is Columbia burn
: ing." la a short time he succeeded in
quieting that crowd of hysterical wo
I men ami terror-stricken "darkies."
I Can one of us ever forget the horrors
of that nicht'.'' The memory id it is burn
ed Into the brain there to remain while
I live lasts. It was imposlblo to forget
I the lurid glare of the .sky, the terror of
the negroes, the awful gloom that set
tied on our spirits as we realist (d thai
Columbia, the pride of the State,
the gem of the South, Columbia, with
its avenues of stately trees, its beauti
ful homes, and do igbtful gardens;
Columbia with Its evergreens, its foun
tains, its wealth of (lowers?was perish
ing in this whirlwind of lire. Kven to
my childish mind came some realiza
tion of tiio awful oalamlty, for wo had
spent the previous summer in this ver
itable earthly paradise, and iiad re
velled in its beauty and delight-.
The next day a courier came, con
firming our belief that Columbia was
burned, and reporting Sherman's army
as starting in out dlreotlon. Tuen the
fear seized the people that the same
unmerciful torch was lighted for our
fair town : oconfusion reigned ; many
lied, taking with them servant-and
valuables : many determined to stay by
their homes till the last. As my uncle's
homo was tbo most promin< nt building
in town, an 1 most likely to attract at
tention' ho thought it most prudent to
scatter out, among the families in town
for the night, his helpless family of wo
men and children, Peeling sure tie
house wool 1 bo plundered, if not burn
ed : and, that, like t he people of Col
umbia, we would have left only what
el >thlng we wore ; we din our bot at
converting ourselvos into animated dry
good stores. Several suits of under
clothes were put on every child, and
twoor three dresses ; in fact, just us
many as could be buttoned on. What
funny figures wo must have made ! No
douhl I toking like the l> itch maidens
of .New Amsterdam, whoso wealth was
counted by the number of skirts they
wore. And stloh a funny time we hail
at night! Unable to turn our uuwiold
ly little bodies in bed, when we could
no longer endure one position ami
wanted to turn over, we hud to get out
on the lloor and got in bed again on tho
other .side. After three nights of this
torture, word came that the Confed
erate soldiers had burned the bridge
across Broad river, whoso waters llow
ed between us and the dreaded foe, and
that the frosht t in the river made it
impossible to throw a pontoon across:
and (2real was the rejoicing at t 'iis tem
porary deliverance. Before tho waters
bail subsided tho tide of the war hud
ebbed, and L.-e had surrendered.
When "the yankocs came," it was to
march quiot'y Into tho town to lake
p ?Session as a garrisan. from the
front windows of our home the victori
ous troops were watched by a crowd of
eager, wondering ohi 1 Iren : two of
whom could not belp fuuliug In their
hearts a mild disappointment that their
athletic exorcises In euhy jumping hud
been all in vain, ami 'what tiie formid
able yankei s were only ?Oidh rs in neat ;
blue uniforms, in>i ?ad oi noldiors in
ragged gray. 1.. A. M.
A STAUNCH HNTr.lU'KISM.
The Soliil Ul'O Wit i and IVi sistoilt
l-.iVoris at 1'rogrenH which Charac
terize the t". ? W. U. Itailroiul.
Abbeville Press and Ummer,
The Cuarkston and Wostorn Caro
lina railroad traverses one of the most
fertile and prosperous sections of South
Carolina. Too marvel ?US growth and
development along all lines of business
throughout the Piedmont li It ha.*, not
abated. The stringency of the money
market anil the hard times generally
to the contrary notwithstanding.
During the past decade '.here, has
been a steady improvement. The
hustle and bo-tie of the live towns, the 1
bplOUCld Ileitis of growing iron. '"
f;rvening, and the thrift and enter
prise of tne people, as a whole, uro
good evidences of a las'dug prosperity. I
It does not seem to bo unreasonable,
therefore, that a sect on of to nr..en I
push and energy should expeot its
railroads to take the lead ku develop
ment and enterprise,
The Charleston and Western Caro
lina has lone since appreciated toe
spirit of this truth, and in order to |
meet the expectations of Its patrons
and friends no p- oplo ever lab in d
harder or succeeded in building hotter
than tho present able and olllciont
management
To those accustomed to travel over
this road, there is nothing so striking
as the seeming permanency of all the
improvements. Where, it was practl
cable, all trestles have la-en removed
and dirt til ing placed Instead. Tho
grades have, been wonderfully redue. d, |
the road bod drained, and the cuts i
rendered frei- from land slides.
At tho stations, water t inks, and all
along the. line, you see tho unmistak? I
aide evidences of line management. ,
During the last three or four years
of business stagnation and depression,
when the whole country was in a State 1
ol political turmoil over the IrUUUCCS
of tho government, no railroad iu-1 i its
own bolter than too C liar l?sten and
Western Carolina.
Having worked up the road bed to a
stat-j oi excellence, tho management
has succeeded ill inducing the new
owners of the road I ? OXpond a large
sum of money in rolling stock, steel
bridgos and terminals.
Thirty miles of new slxty-thl'OO
pound steel rail has h en purchased,
and is now being laid upon the heavy
portion of the ro.nl between I'arksvlllo
anil l/il tville. Noa steel bridgos are
in process of erection at Whale lirauch,
s. 0 : also over the Augusta Canal
over the. Stwannah ItlvOP, IT miles
above Augusta, and steel bridges will
bo erected during the summer over
Warrior Ore?*k, north of L'juirens, and
over Little it v r at Liurens.
Thirteen new locomotives have been
purchased, 25 air-brake box OPrs, 75
air-brake flats, fJO air-brake coal cars,
is oaboos s, and is passenger coaohos.
Tbis equipment Is thoroughly inodorn
anil up-to dato in every respect.
In addition to this Improvement, the
management is spending ahmt sixty
thousand doll irs in erecting MOW docks
and warehouses at Port (loyal, and re- ';
modelling them to facilitate the hand
ling of export trafll -.
Tho new terminals at Augusta,
Which wiil uoupy the entire river '
front, parallelling l oad Street, the;
principal commercial avenuo of too
I city, will cost in tbo neghborbood of
$100,000. New depots and ollioo ouild
ings will be erected, yards and transfer
tracks arranged.
for regular monthly services during
the summer months from Dort Koyal,
S. C During the winter months the
? service will bo much more frequent.
These .-hips have boou running regu
larly since April, ami have carried out
, miscellaneous cargoes, consisting of
nil of the principal Southern products.
Th<> road i- being put in lirst-class
condition so as to place it in position
to enjoy the trafrlo of the enterprising
communities which its'?rvos.
Too much cannot he said of tho nro
sont management. The fact that the
new owner- of the road have expended
so largo a sum in Improvements, is a
suuioinnt compliment within itsolf to
the eminent lltness of those composing
the management.
Both Mr. Cralg and Mr. Anderson
have worked their way up from humble
service, ami by olose application aud
indefatigable endeavor have been most
prominent in building an enterprise of
which thoy have every reason to bo
proud, and which deserves and merits
tho support of its friends arul patrons.
They do not indulge in riotous living
?traveling in palace cars and sport
ing ilashlng diamonds?but they are
tho test of genial-hearted gentlemen,
strictly in the swim for business,
Thoy both enjoy the best wishes of
every ono In their efforts to make the
future of the Charleston and VVestorn
Carolina all thoy desire it should bo.
CilAS. T. Dak ion.
Lowndesvllle, S. C, June 21st. 1SK7.
Till-: WKATUKK AM) chops.
Valuable Information to Those Inter
est cd io I'arming Operations.
The following is the weekly bulletin
issued by the weather bureau in Co
i lumblu as to tho condition of the crops
in tnis State :
Columbia, s C, Juno 22, 18!?7.
The week averaged 5 degrees per
day hotter than usual with maximum
tempi ratures above 100 at many places.
The highest reported was 102 on tho
l'Jth at Cilllsonvillo ; the lowest Oil on
the Ulth ami Pith at IMoronco. Tho
111 can of the St ate, for the week, deduc
I ed from ?d reports was s.t and the nor
I mat is approximately 78.
Tin re wero showers in some por
tions of the State each day in the woek
although, with a few exceptions, the
rainful was light, as 20 places reported
less than one inch : 10 from one to two
inches: 10over two inches, with f>.2l
at ! '1 ck s Station : .'! 50 at Mount Clare:
ll.l?atSt. George; and :! ?? at Flor
ence. The average of tho measure
ments was 1 00 while the noinal is ap
proximate 1.00.
Thoro was an abundanooof sunshine,
tho estimated percentage of the possl
hl ? was and not below normal at
any place.
Destructive hail fill in Florence,
Anderson, Sum tor, Darlington, Lex
ington, Nowbarry and Crangeburg
count ies.
11 i _r 11 winds destructive to crops,
especially corn, occurred on the 17th
In Pioroneo, Clarendon, Darlington,
M irlon, Chester and Chesterfield.
There were. Iso destructive winds in
Hampton, Spartanburg, Diekens,
Croon vlllo and Beau lor t, The injury
was in each case con lined to compara
tively small areas.
The combination of steady high tem
perature, abundant sunshine, and geu
. rally sulliclont moisture was very
favorable on crop-, which made rapid
growth except that in places corn and
cotton wilted in the mid-day sun, re
viving again at night. Over portions
of 15 u nwell, Bamborg, Dickens, Kdgo
lleld, B?rry, Anderson. Alken and
Lexington counties the ground is very
dry and hard. Over portions of Berke
ley. Florence, Ciarendon, Orangeburg,
B?rry, Chester and York counties tho
ground is too wet to plow and grass
ha- become a menace to small corn
and to cotton. Grassy tie Ms aro also
reported from Snintor, Union and
Newbcrry counties. Otherwise Mehl?
arc generally idean, and free from grass
or iieing rapidly put into such condi
tion.
b'rom Spartanhurg and Fairflold com
plaint i- received of crusted soil after
tho heavy r un- of the previous wook.
I. imi- were badly washed in ESdgefield
ami GrcenviHo.
All these adverse conditions aro
more than otTsot by reports of Improve
ment in crop conditions, over the State
gcnortilly, ami applicable to all crops
raised. Insects worn !<?*?* numoro**"
and d'".'Vi active than during any pre
, .on- week of tin- crop season,
although chinch hugs in York and
Cilest? r, on corn . a root 1 ?use or beetle
on cotton in Itichland may be noted as ?
exceptions. Tue latter insect is new to
the region Infested.
(' n il is being laid by with prospects
di cidodly bettered although advorso
reports are numerous. lOarly corn is
in silk anu tassels. Its color is good
except in Berkely where it is turning
yellow. The Improvement noted does
11 it yet promise a full crop.
t oil in continues small, is healthy
and the ear! est is beginning to bloom.
I'ho plant made fair growth and its
conditli 11 is generally satisfactory, ex
cept where injured by excessive rains
in B-jrkeloy, Chester and York; Some
rust is noted ;n Fair Ii dd and Lexing
ton. Sea Island cotton in splendid
condition, free from parlsltos and
blooming.
TobaCCO Wii8 injured by bail in por
tions of l-'l irence, Clarendon and Dir
llngton. Its condition has generally
improved but is not uniform, and in
places tobacco shows signs of maturing
too early.
Kiee ooiiig well in (' illeton, but last
planting som iwhat injured by eater
pillars. Is small In Willlamsburg.
Small and yohow in Lexington. Karly
11c ? heading wed.
S in 0 ol the lands llooded by tho pre
vious heavy mins have been replanted
and othors ab onioned.
Watermelons poor and lato, although
showing deoldcd improvement lat
terly.
Ksirly p aches inclined tobe small
and faulty. Crapes rotting badly In
I) irlington.
I'eas being .-own in with corn and
on stubble I mils. Seed scarce over
the ea-tern counties but plentiful over
the western, The crop is making good
growth.
VVhoat harvest practically linished.
Fall oats also harvested, with generally
g.I yields. Some damaged in tho
shock by rain. Spring oats being cut
ami aro poor. Threshing begun with
yield of wheat good, of oats fion poor
to very good.
Gardons have kept up thoir abun
dant, yield of seasonable vegetables.
Pastures are better than heretofore.
Wild berries ii'o ahm.dan* ovor tho
entire State. Sugar e<tQe of all va
rictiles doing vcy we'!.
From the national bulletin of Juno
II: " Thoro lias been a goneral Im
provomunt in the condition of cotton
throughout tho cotton belt, it being
most marked in South Carolina and
Gergla.
?'Corn, while generally backward,
has made good progress in tho prin
ciple corn States under tho favorable
weather conditions of the past woek.
A marked improvement in tho eropds
reported from Missouri,,, Kansas and
Nebraska, and generally throughout
the central vdJleys.'
__a^m-*nMdkn^^+U\i*i lib -finlm ?11